Air India To Add 100 Aircraft In 2 Years

Air India Group is moving forward with its growth plans and aims to add more than 100 aircraft to its fleet across 2027 and 2028

Intending to reshape capacity at both Air India and Air India Express, the group announced the expansion several years ago, with hundreds of Airbus and Boeing orders set to begin delivery.

The expansion comes amid pressure on the Tata Group-owned airline to reach profitability after decades of neglect and losses, which have strained its finances and damaged its brand image. With costs being somewhat managed, disrupted airspace, and softer demand on parts of the network, warning signs have emerged over the airline’s future deliveries.

During an employee town hall, according to PTI, outgoing Air India chief executive Campbell Wilson said that while nearly 300 aircraft operate across the full-service and low-cost airline divisions, that figure will grow.

Air India Targets More Than 100 Aircraft Deliveries

The additional aircraft Air India plans to add are expected to arrive rapidly over two years from 2027. However, the specifics on types have yet to be publicly detailed, with delivery allocations and splits awaiting firm confirmation between the mainline and Express divisions.

Air India is already working through one of the largest outstanding orderbooks, with 470 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing ordered in February 2023. The sizeable contract included Airbus A350s, A320neo-family aircraft, Boeing 787-9s, 777-9s, and 737 MAX jets. The business added a further 100 Airbus jets in late 2024, with the A350 and A320neo backlog growing.

This programme and investment aim to modernise the inherited fleet, which consists of a mix of Airbus and Boeing types but relies more heavily on older technologies. With domestic and international growth targeted, the new aircraft will not only replace older models to lower operating costs but also enable the airline to serve new cities.

Air India Express, following delivery of its first 737-8, is looking to expand its low-cost operation as it absorbs transferred aircraft from the former AIX Connect as part of consolidation efforts that also saw Vistara integrated into Air India.

According to reports, Air India has already taken delivery of three Boeing 787-9s this year and expects further widebodies by year-end. With 184 aircraft, the view is that this will grow substantially, even despite reports that the airline would delay new deliveries to manage costs.

Air India’s Boeing 787 Retrofit Also Takes Shape

Alongside the new deliveries, Air India is investing heavily in its USD 400 million widebody refurbishment programme of legacy models. The programme includes retrofitting 16 Boeing 787-8s, the first variant from the family it received.

These 787-8 refurbishments began in 2026 with the return of the first aircraft, and the airline expects four more to re-enter the fleet by year-end. Barring any headwinds, the 16-aircraft programme will be completed by the end of 2027.

While new aircraft are a vital component of Air India’s new era, retrofitting existing aircraft is particularly important to bring older planes up to standard and align them with the new inbound aircraft. These 787-8s are vital for the international network, with Europe, North America, Australia and Asia all featuring the type.

Creating a more consistent product is vital to regain customers’ trust and deliver an experience competitive with rival airlines. However, with expansion still planned amid a challenging operating backdrop, analysts have raised concerns about what a consistent stream of new deliveries and retrofit investments will look like.

Fuel volatility in 2026 and continued airspace restrictions over Pakistan have forced longer routings for westbound services, adding hours to sectors; with fuel a major driver of expenses, this has threatened margins and financial results.

Despite the adversity, Air India remains committed to its turnaround programme but expects it to take up to 10 years to complete, rather than the previously outlined five.